South Holland

South Holland's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in work life, religion and marriage.

The population passed 88,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of South Holland increased by 15%, from about 76,500 to 88,300.

The addition of almost 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Holland was home to, on average, 0.85 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Holland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Holland increased by one year, from 44 to 45 years.

This rural area had the third-highest average age in the East Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 400.

About 14% of people in South Holland are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

South Holland saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Holland said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 21% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.5% to 2.3%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 19% to 12%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Long hour working in South Holland decreased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in South Holland

The number of people in South Holland that described themselves as Christian increased from about 63,000 in 2001 to just under 64,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 83% to 72%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 72% to 59%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in South Holland that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 7,500 in 2001 to just over 17,000 in 2011 (from 9.7% to 19%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 5,400 to just under 6,400 (from 7.0% to 7.2%).

About 260 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 140 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population who identified as Christian in South Holland decreased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in South Holland

South Holland saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 and over in South Holland said they were married, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 21% to 25%.

Across the region, only Lincoln saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 44% to 37%).

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of South Holland residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 4.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of South Holland residents that were self-employed increased from 9.8% to 10.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. The improvement brought health in South Holland close to the national average 4.4% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of unemployment in South Holland increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

South Holland saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in South Holland had at least one dependent child, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 66% to 65%.

Across the region, only Boston (from 26% to 28%) and Derby (from 30% to 31%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with children.

During this period, South Holland fell below Lincoln, the Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire to become the East Midlands local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in South Holland

The percentage of South Holland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.5% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage of South Holland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Holland, but at a slower rate than in Boston (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with South Holland).

In South Holland, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.4% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Boston increased from 7.3% to 16%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in South Holland fell from 14% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 73%.

Private renting in South Holland increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Holland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 6.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of South Holland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 26% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Holland decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Holland, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in South Holland, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households had only one person, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households in South Holland which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in South Holland increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in South Holland

The number of people in South Holland from the White ethnic groups increased from about 76,000 in 2001 to about 86,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in South Holland from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 340 in 2001 to just under 800 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.9%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 360 to just under 750 (from 0.5% to 0.9%).

Just under 260 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 120 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in South Holland remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Holland residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Holland remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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